[gui-talk] Blind Massachusetts Residents Unable to Access EmergencyInformation

[Peter Donahue]

Hello everyone,

    As a former Massachusetts resident all I can say is "Go get em!" Blind 
and deaf-blind people like to have choices when it comes to accessing 
information including emergency alert systems. Radios and audio captchas 
don't work for the deaf-blind.  Some Web languages have embedded code that 
can check the legitimacy of a user in the background. The user is totally 
unaware that this is being done. If they use asp.net or another Web language 
that includes such a screening feature they can utilize it instead of 
bothering users with visual captchas.

    I'm also aware of a new type of captcha which will hopefully address the 
needs of blind and deaf-blind persons whenever these things are used. But 
truthfully we'd all be better off without such nonsense particularly when it 
comes to accessing information of a life  or death nature.

Peter Donahue


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
To: "Discussion of the Graphical User Interface, GUI Talk Mailing List" 
<gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 6:22 AM
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Blind Massachusetts Residents Unable to Access 
EmergencyInformation


I was wondering, if they need to sign up for this service, why not use
something like Solona or the other Fire Fox add on, (I can't remember the
name right now).  Seems like an issue is being made when there doesn't need
to be one.

Cindy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gerald Levy" <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
To: "Discussion of the Graphical User Interface, GUI Talk Mailing List"
<gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 7:10 AM
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Blind Massachusetts Residents Unable to Access
EmergencyInformation



This is a bunch of nonsense.  Blind Mass. residents can just turn on their
radios or TV's like everyone else to obtain emergency information.  Another
example of creating an issue where none exists.

Gerald


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)"
<JFreeh at nfb.org>
To: <david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 11:19 PM
Subject: [gui-talk] Blind Massachusetts Residents Unable to Access
EmergencyInformation


>
>
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
> CONTACT:
>
> Mika Pyyhkala
>
> National Board member
>
> President, NFB of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
> "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Massachusetts
>
> (617) 202-3497
>
> pyyhkala at gmail.com
>
>
>
>
>
> Blind Massachusetts Residents
> Unable to Access Emergency Information
>
>
>
>
>
> Contractor Everbridge Blocks Blind Subscribers
>  from Emergency Alert Systems
>
>
>
> Boston, Massachusetts (December 6, 2010): The National Federation of the
> Blind of Massachusetts (NFB of MA) is working to resolve an emergency
> issue with the City of Boston and one of its contractors, Everbridge.  The
> city contracts with Everbridge to provide a subscription service whereby
> residents can receive emergency alerts by telephone, text message, or
> e-mail, but blind residents cannot access the service because registering
> involves a visual captcha.  Captchas are automated tests used to tell
> humans and computers apart, often through the use of distorted letters
> that must be retyped by the person attempting to register for an online
> service.  Since blind people cannot respond to visual-only captchas, which
> cannot be read by screen access software used by the blind, many entities
> provide an audio alternative or some other form of captcha, such as a
> simple logic question.  Everbridge's system provides no such alternative.
>
>
>
> NFB of MA President Mika Pyyhkala has been unable to reach the company
> since discovering the problem on November 29, despite repeated attempts at
> contact through its Twitter and Facebook accounts, e-mail addresses, and
> telephone customer service system, as well as a telephone call to the
> office of its CEO.
>
>
>
> Mika Pyyhkala, president of the National Federation of the Blind of
> Massachusetts, said: "Blind people need timely access to information in
> emergency situations, just like everyone else.  Clearly, however,
> Everbridge did not give this basic need any consideration when it designed
> its system; nor did the cities of Boston, Waltham, and Winchester consider
> the needs of their blind citizens during their procurement processes.  The
> sluggish response by Everbridge and the City of Boston to this emergency
> is deplorable given that it would be very easy for Everbridge to fix this
> problem or for the city to procure this service from a company that does
> not use a visual captcha as the sole means of allowing users to register.
> The Everbridge accessibility issue represents a wake-up call for every CIO
> and CTO regarding technology, civil rights, and timely communication with
> stakeholders."
>
>
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
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